Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Oct. 21, 2009, edition 1 / Page 3
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OCTOBER: NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH Anna Turner Staff Writer According to the NCADV (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence), one in every four women will experi ence domestic violence in her lifetime. October is National Domestic Vio lence Awareness Month, and is dedi cated to helping'spread knowledge and awareness to one day put an end to domestic abuse. Domestic violence is a demon that plagues more than , 1.3 million women a year. However, there are potentially even more cases than this, because most'vlolent do mestic disputes are never reported to police. Domestic violence affects more than the victim and abuser. The NCADV suggests that children who witness violence between parents in the home are prone to pass that violent behavior from one generation to the next. At the beginning of October, President Obama announced this month as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. His proclamation expressed his concern with domestic violence in America, by noting that the a violent “home becomes a place of fear, hopelessness, and despera tion when a woman is battered by her partner, a child witnesses the abuse of a loved one, or a senior Is ’ victimized by family members,” He also brought up ways that the current state of the economy d'oes not allow for women to get out of an abusive relationship very easily He explained that In an effort to make leaving a violent.relatlonship a little easier, "the American Recovery and Reinvest ment Act provides $325 million for . the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Victims of Crime Act , (VOCA). This funding will supplement the Federal VAWA and VOCA dollars that.flow to communities every year, ^ and enable states, local governments, tribes, and victim service provid- ' ers to retain and hire personnel that can serve victims and hold offend ers accountable.” He also stressed the urgent need for Americans to do everything in their powerlo help end domestic violence. Domestic abuse involves not only physical brutality but also psychologi cal and emotional pain. The NCADV defines domestic violence as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery,. Sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another.” It is often the psychological abuse that goes undiscovered. Many times, physical abuse can be noticed through bruises and other injuries; it is the emotional damage that can be exceedingly difficult to assess. The NCADV appropriately refers to do mestic violence as being “an epidemic affecting individuals in every com munity, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality or educational background." In Raleigh, over fifty people gath ered at the Wake County Courthouse and marched down Fayetteville Street in memory of Jammie Street, who •was murdered earlier this month'. According to the News and Observer, some activists gave up their lunch break to participate in the march. The N & 0 reports that Jammie Street was killed in front of her children's' daycare cienter on October 7 by her boyfriend. She was shot In the head, chest and arm. After shooting Jam mie, Daniel Montgomery, apparently turned the gun on himself. The shot to his chest was not fatal, and he is be ing treated at Wake Med. According to Street’s family members. Montgom ery was “angry" over their separation and “threatened to ‘make her pay’” for it. This awful incident is unfortunately only one of many that occurs daily across America, and the world, As hu man beings, we should do everything in our power to prevent crimes such as these from taking place. Statistics show that domestic abuse is not dis criminating and could potentially af fect anyone. This month is dedicated to honoring those who have suffered in any way from domestic violence, A atsrong. Ttwai A.-ctiv As « 4s r?ic;-aA. Ifa wfpty tir«e U.S- Arniy ■5«n5lRW5r»Cl5 ®s>d Vi'Uf vcS'Ti or l-B-OO-ySA-ARMV.
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Oct. 21, 2009, edition 1
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